PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar (UoP) has declared the Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for all students, faculty and other staff of the university to curb the spread of the virus.
The UoP vice-chancellor Dr Muhammad Idrees made it mandatory for students and teachers in all departments of the university to wear masks and use hand sanitizers. He directed each department to ensure the students are vaccinated so that they do not face the difficulties in attending classes, like previous year.
Omicron Cases
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department on Thursday confirmed 44 more cases of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. The reports said that out of 44 cases, 20 cases were confirmed from Peshawar while 16 were reported from Mardan, three from Nowshera, two from Bannu, one each from Karak, Swat and Mohmand.
Out of 44 patients, 29 are men and 15 women. With the new case, the total number of Omicron cases in the province has risen to 189.
The health department said that in Peshawar, the Covid postivitity rate has climbed to 8%. As a part of measures to contain the fifth wave of Covid-19, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has decided to limit educational activities in the cities with more than 10% of positivity rate where 50% students will attend classes. Over 12-year-old students will attend schools with mandatory vaccination. The NCOC decided that the cities with more than 10% positive ratio, no indoor gatherings will be allowed in wedding halls while outdoor gatherings will be limited to 300 individuals.
Meanwhile, the institution of management science, a leading private university, has closed the university due to raise in cases. The statement said, “the University will remain closed indefinitely due to Covid-19 outbreak.” The university has directed the students to vacate university hostel as soon as possible to avoid any major outbreak. The announcement informed that scheduled exams at university have also been suspended.